Preserving animal tissues.



UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES QI 0F cruoaco. rumors.

pngsgaylmg ANIMAL TI$$.. .-J

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. CALM, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have discovered a new and useful Improvement in the Art ofPreserving Animal Tissues, of which the following is a specification.

In studying the action of iron upon the live and dead cell structures ofanimal tissues I have discovered that the soluble ferric forms of ironsalts have the properties of coagulating the protoplasma of the livingcells, but have substantially no effect upon the dead cell structures.Experiments with meat containing bacteria and other microorganismsshowed that when a soluble ferric form of an iron salt was applied tomeat, even in small quantities, it arrested, retarded, or inhibited fora time the bacterial growth and did not affect the cell structures ofthe meat or its nutritive qualities or physical appearance.

In a series of practical tests I found that when a soluble ferric saltwas suitably applied to a piece of meat it would remain sweet and freshat ordinary temperatures in the open air for a week or more and that thetexture, fiber, taste, and nutritive properties were substantially thesame as in the naturally fresh meat.

Certain ferric salts have long been used as drugs and are well known tophysicians. It is known that when added to foods they neither retard noraffect digestion, but are excreted unaltered from the human system. Itis therefore apparent that they may be used as a preservative for foodswith entire safety. In other words, they may be mixed in food withoutdanger of mischievous results. l/Vhile all soluble ferric salts areadapted to preserve animal tissues when suitably applied thereto, thereare certain well-known toxic ferric salts, the use of which must beavoided in the preservation of meat intended for human food sincehowever useful they may be as preservatives, their presence woulddestroy food value. The term toxic ferric salts is to be taken asincluding all 7 those ferric salts which are substantially poisonous tothe human economy, but not those where no mischievous effect resultswhen administered in food.

In practice I prefer to use from one to four ounces of soluble ferricsalt to every hundred Spe ific tion of Let s a c nt-- Annlioation filedNovember 18, 1905. Serial No. 288,059.

Ba eetea Qat- 2, 1.89.

pounds of meat treated, which I have found to be approximately themaximum. If a double salt or an admixture of a ferric form of a solubleiron salt is used, it may be applied in the same proportions. These proportions may be varied according to the size of the pieces, the lengthof time they are to be preserved, or their condition. For example, ifmeat is freshly killed immediately after the animal heat is out thesmaller proportion above mentioned'may be used to advantage, while uponolder, though strictly fresh, meat the larger proportion may be founddesirable. In treating large pieces I prefer to wash or dip in solution;in treating sausage or chopped meat, to sprinkle with a dry or powderedform. In corning, curing, and pickling according to the well-knowndry-cure process the meat may be sprinkled or thoroughly rubbed with thedry or powdered form. In corning, curing,'and pickling according to thewell-known brine process a solution of the ferric salt may be added tothe brine. In preserving for a short time a relatively smaller portionof the soluble ferric salt is applied, while for a longer time largerproportions are used. To illustrate, in curing, corning, or picklingmeat where preservation must be for a considerable time I have found itconvenient to take the maximum proportions above mentioned As the aboveproportions are based on unmixed ferric salt, due allowance should bemade for double or admixed salts.

Whatever proportions are used or whatever methods of application, thesoluble ferric salt in the meat will arrest or delay for a considerablespace of time the bacterial growth and act as an antiseptic.

Among the soluble ferric salts which I have found particularly useful inthe practice of my invention may be mentioned ferric nitrate, ferricsulfite, ferric borate and other ferric salts having non-toxicalradicals. In the treatment of animal tissues not intended for use asfoods I may add to the above list ferric cyanid, ferric arsenite, ferricpermanganate, and other salts having toxical radicals.

I prefer to use ferric-nitrate, as it tends to maintain the natural redcolor of the meat, or as a double salt of the ferric form of ironpotassium nitrate, or where sulfite is used in place of a nitrate aferric sodium sulfite form of iron salt.

Having thus-described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improvement in the art of preserving animal tissues, consistingin applying thereto in approximately the proportions specified thoseferric salts which are substantially soluble in water at ordinarytemperatures whereby the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms isarrested.

2. The improvement in the art of preserving animal tissues, consistingin applying to the animal tissues in approximately the proportionsspecified a non-toxic ferric form of an iron salt, substantially solublein water at ordinary temperatures whereby the growth of bacteria andother micro-organisms is arrested.

3. The improvement in the art of preserv ing meat, consisting inapplying to the meattissues ferric nitrate, in approximately theproportions specified whereby the growth of bacteria and othermicro-organisms is arrested.

4. The improvement in the art of preserving meat, consisting in applyingthereto ferric potassium nitrate in approximately the proportionsspecified, whereby the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms isarrested.

5. The improvement in the art of preserving meat, consisting in applyingthereto ferric nitrate in the proportion of four ounces of ferricnitrate to one hundred pounds of meat, whereby the growth of bacteriaand other micro-organisms is arrested.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

CHARLES E. CALM.

Witnesses:

CHARLES L. HINE, ARTHUR GREENE.

